Bel Air man dies from injuries in Friday's multi-vehicle crash near Forest Hill

AEGIS STAFF REPORT

A Bel Air man died Sunday from injuries he suffered in a three-vehicle crash north of Forest Hill early Friday evening, Maryland State Police said.

The accident happened around 5 p.m. in the 3000 block of Rocks Road (Route 24) near the bridge over Stirrup Run, according to initial Harford County emergency radio dispatches.

The Harford County Fire & EMS Association initially reported on its Facebook page someone was trapped in one of the vehicles with one patient reported in grave condition at the scene.

Cpl. Dudek, the duty officer at the Maryland State Police Bel Air Barrack, said one person, later identified as Samuel Joseph Walto Jr., 22, of Flintlock Drive in Bel Air, was taken to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center and then flown to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore because of the severity of his injuries.

Mr. Walto died at shock trauma Sunday at 9:53 a.m., State Police said.

According to State Police, two other people involved in the crash, Heather Colleen Harrington, 41, of Whiteford, and John Kevin Healy, 47, of Pylesville, were taken to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center and released later that evening.

In a news release, State Police said their preliminary investigation determined Mr. Walto was at fault in the crash.

Mr. Walto was driving a gray 2013 Honda Accord north on Route 24, south of Fern Cliff Lane, when his vehicle crossed the center line, striking the left portion of a green 1999 Ford F250 pickup truck that was traveling south.

The Honda continued to travel north in the southbound lane, where it hit another vehicle head on, State Police said. All three vehicles came to rest in the southbound lane of Route 24.

Mr. Walto was trapped inside his car and was extracted by fire department personnel.

Route 24 was closed for several hours following the accident. State Police said Sunday their investigation is continuing.

Mr. Walto's death was the third on a Harford County highway this year.